McGown & Markling is very proud to remain among the select few law firms to receive a Tier 1 Ranking by U.S. News—Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” in “Education Law” for every year since the ranking began. The rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes thousands of clients, highly skilled lawyers, and law firm representatives.

Education law is deceptively easy to define. Here is the evaluation criteria used by U.S. News & World Report:“Education law deals with public and private institutions at all levels— primary, secondary and higher education. A comprehensive practice encompasses public finance, labor and employment, special education, taxation, real estate, litigation, intellectual property, environmental and regulatory law.”

Between the lines of that definition, however, resides a complex web of issues important to every school district, school board, ESC and public agency. This is our wheelhouse at McGown & Markling. Our team of attorneys is experienced in every facet of education law (pre-K through 12), including:

Financing— counseling and supervision of proceedings for debt and lease-based financing of capital improvements and for cash-flow financings including state law, federal tax and securities law analysis and assistance.

Acquisition and disposition of property—office equipment, energy conservation measures, and the leasing, purchase and sale of property.

Special education law— counseling on compliance with Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, attendance at Individualized Education Program meetings, mediations, and due process hearings, staff training, legislative involvement and court appeals.

Territory transfers— procedures for district reorganization including annexation, consolidation and transfer.

McGown & Markling is also prepared to act as general counsel for higher education institutions. Legal services include:

Collective bargaining.

Arbitrations.

Board of trustee meetings, functions and resolutions.

Bond financing.

Bylaws, faculty guidelines and administrative manuals.

Litigation over testamentary gifts.

Executive compensation.

Development, fundraising and implementation of gifts.

Taxation of income from ancillary sources.

Intellectual property ownership and licensing.

McGown & Markling is dedicated to the common good of ensuring that all educational institutions and their officials are provided with adequate school law representation. We honor this professional commitment through our exclusive School Law Hotline℠, which offers all eligible Ohio educational institutions with five hours of pro bono legal services per school year.